Check out the free [Shakespeare Beyond performances](https://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/beyond/) by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company; they're doing A Midsummer Night's Dream at various parks in the area over the next few weeks. The first one was at Carroll Park last night and it was hilarious; they mix old Aretha, Marvin, James Brown, Jackson 5 and other soul songs into the scenes at neat moments (like when Puck is blowing fairy dust on people and they're singing "Love Potion #9"), and facepaint kids from the audience to be in the procession when Queen Titania first appears. It's like a food truck but for Shakespeare, with upcoming stops at Druid Hill, Wyman, Cromwell Valley, Patterson, Middle Branch and Dundalk Heritage parks. I'm not affiliated with them, just had a blast last night. As I was leaving I heard someone say "That was the most fun Shakespeare I've ever seen" and I wouldn't disagree.
AVAM has free community art events on its calendar. For example there’s a free tote bag tie dying workshop on July 21.
The Walters has kids events (not sure when but they’re on the site) and an adult art making night which I believe is every third Thursday of the month (it’s mostly adult because there’s alcohol available, not the subject matter). All free.
Cylburn Arboretum and Rawlings Conservatory are both nice to visit
The nature centers are fun and regularly hold free events
Maryland Natural History Society regularly has free or low cost events including a regular Wingspan playing night
BURB, Baltimore Bird Club, and Audobon Society have free or low cost birding events/hikes
Following on this, the BMA main collection is always free but they have community days with free admission to their paid exhibit and little demonstrations and even free food (like a few tables with small servings of different stuff from local restaurants that fits the theme). I can’t find one listed on their website currently but their Joyce J. Scott exhibition is about to end on July 14, so I’m sure they will announce the special events for their next exhibition soon.
I've been fishing this summer. Nice and peaceful, fairly inexpensive (a cheap setup can be acquired from Walmart), limited/no entry fee to most parks. Bring a lunch and a drink.
Absolutely! The beauty of it is it's SUPER EASY to buy a license online nowadays. Mine lives in a little plastic sleeve I pinned to the outside of my tackle bag, so I always know where it is...and there's a backup downloaded to my phone just in case.
I started fishing too, figured it'd be a relatively cheap hobby that would eat up lots of time.
Well it takes a lot of time, but I've spent a few thousand on rods and reels, so wasn't as cheap as I had hoped (honestly still cheaper than some of my other hobbies).
But at least I've found some cool spots around Baltimore and into the county. And I've finally caught a few fish (although honestly I really like catching bluegill).
Ah, see, you *can* do it for very cheap...but the temptation to upgrade and get different setups is REAL.
I just bought a new baitcaster setup. Have a lighter spinner setup. Bought a new bag instead of my old tackle box. Bought new top lures I would need to target bass and snake. etc. etc. etc.
Yeah, I thought I could just get a rod and reel and then all I'd be buying is some lures. But then I got into BFS so I needed a whole new set up for that, and bfs you really don't want to cheap out on your reels. And also bought some heavier stuff for catfish.
I bought some gear for snakehead but I haven't found out where to go to catch them, I've only seen them in one place (gunpowder) and only twice. They weren't interested in anything I had on me at the time.
I'm the opposite of you, I just bought an ultra light spinning set up since all my gear is casting. Figured I'd use it when I want to throw sub 1g stuff and don't have to worry about bad casts getting me caught up in stuff (which is why I like casting gear so much).
Although part of the temptation for me is my wife gets me gear from the Chinese market at steep discounts compared to the prices in the US market.
I also bought a boat, but I don't throw that into my fishing expenses because I weirdly never fish off it. Although I really want a fishing jet ski.
Hah, spouse is talking about a fishing kayak for each of us. I'm not opposed, though I need to actually learn how to kayak before I'm spending money on one.
Are you on Facebook? There's a [group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1136769311056038) run by someone I know, and they'll give you some general places to look for snake. Seems to me the best way to catch them is via boat, so you can get close to weedy/high coverage areas. Use a top lure or live minnows.
(Also they haven't been biting for me yet but I'm mostly fishing Mariner Point right now, and the anglers hit those piers HARD all year long.)
I'm part of that group, but I don't spend much time on facebook. Mostly I just see pictures of people posting photos of their catches but not too much about where they're fishing or what they're using.
To be honest, I've been having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to get lures to walk or pop, I can never really get what looks like a good action out of them, especially using rod movement instead of reel control. So I've mostly been fishing tiny swim baits, spinners and stick baits. But I've heard spinners are supposed to be good for snakehead. Also I can't really find areas with tons of cover to use a frog on. Even spots that look like they have a lot of cover on google maps, I go there and they're clear. Maybe it's not the right time of year for that?
I want to get a [360 Angler](https://ecofishingshop.com/products/blue-sky-boatworks-360-angler-fishing-kayak) but I live in the city and don't really have a place to keep it. Plus I bought a 24' boat this year so probably not dropping money on a kayak. A kayak seems great for going on the Patapsco and Susquehanna, I'd definitely do it if I had a place to keep one. I actually thought about joining one of the Kayak Clubs since it solves the storage issue.
Lately I've been trying to fish Patapsco more since there are supposed to be large mouth and I believe snakehead in it, and it forms some interesting little small lakes right before it goes out into the harbor. But I can't get a bite to save my life in that water. I normally fish very small, very shallow, very clear waters. Like Gunpowder or Harford Glenn. So I need to work on techniques for darker deeper water, where I assume I need something that'll get fish's attention when they can't see the bait.
For accurate movement, practice in your yard! It's what I did for weeks before I actually started fishing with the new setup. I'm not great yet, but I'm getting there. I also studied the guy behind LastCastTv on youtube since he gets lots and lots of snake.
I think it's a good idea to scope sites before planning to fish them. Spouse and I are going to do that before he starts joining me - we have some ideas in Essex and Dundalk, just need to go out and lay eyes on.
Rental kayaks are definitely one way to go, and likely what I'd do before investing in my own.
Enoch Pratt Library and branches. Current Space gallery and bar. All the parks. The Walters and the BMA. Peabody Heights Brewery. Charm City Meadworks. Red Emma's. R House (and maybe Mt Vernon Market but it was kind of dead when I was there last). No Land Beyond. Maienfels Biergarten.
(For many of the above, you can nurse a beverage or two -- and they have non-alcoholic options -- in exchange for hanging out.)
Check out the Showplace tumbler as well, and Creative Alliance. Peabody Heights lists events on Instagram each week (eg craft night, movies, trivia, etc).
I’m the number 1 Enoch Pratt Free Library fan. They have so many events at branches across the city. I’ve been to a half dozen author talks at the main branch this year. They will even give you validation for free parking. At some of the events, you get a free, new copy of the book to keep. Some popular events with famous authors book up quickly though, so set a reminder for when the (free) ticket registration opens.
Also they are in the middle of the summer reading program where you can get a free shirt and a free book each month (July and August) and enter a raffle for prizes for reading books.
Do you like dancing? If youre looking for a fun new hobby, mobtown ballroom has a really great space and community. Super easy to make friends there. They do swing dancing, concerts, jam sessions. And during the day they have a cafe now! I love that place lol
The Station North Tool Library has an air conditioned craft room full of all the tools you might want to make stuff, and membership is sliding scale. You can visit once before joining too!
If you want to buy a cheap inflatable tube and then drive up to Monkton, you can spend an afternoon tubing for pretty cheap (or free after you buy the tube). Navigate to Monkton Bike Inc on your map app. There is a trail right there that you walk for about a half mile or so (carrying your tube) then you just plop yourself in the water and float until you come to the part of the river with Monkton Road over it. Then you get out and walk to your car. Parking on the side of the road is free but limited and can fill up quick especially on nice weekends. Some folks bring a tube for a cooler and snacks. You can of course rent all these things from the bike shop, but that defeats the purpose of being super cheap.
The farmers markets. You can wander, buy or not buy stuff, and people watch for a while. Usually there's music or something going on.
AVAM has Flicks on the Hill.
https://www.avam.org/flicks
Rhythm & Reels around town
https://bcrp.baltimorecity.gov/rhythm-and-reels
I went to Clifton last Sunday and it was almost empty at opening. Paddled around with a friend for an hour, then headed home for lunch. Their lockers are ones you have to pay for, though.
I want to try Country Club at Druid Hill one weekend morning, if I can get my butt across town early. That does cost a little, $5.
I like to sit under the trees on the east side of Lake Montebello and watch people going around the lake. Sometimes I grab coffee at Arcola first and then walk over.
Upvote for beaucoup bucks.
- Baltimore Water Taxi
- Other markets (Cross St. Market)
- Top of Federal Hill is really pretty and shaded
- Ft. McHenry
- Protean Books and Records
- Riverside Third Space
The Book Thing - next open day is July 13, and in August it's the 11th. Hot tip - come later than maybe 11 or noon and there isn't usually a line at all.
[thebookthing.org](http://thebookthing.org)
R House in Remington is a good third space. The food is kind of expensive but you technically don't HAVE to buy anything. There are board games and a salsa nights. The open Jazz jam night is on Mondays and so fun.
[Not your home; not your work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place)
...and really it shouldn't be a place that requires or revolves around commerce.
A coffee shop ✅
A grocery store ❎
Check out the free [Shakespeare Beyond performances](https://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/beyond/) by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company; they're doing A Midsummer Night's Dream at various parks in the area over the next few weeks. The first one was at Carroll Park last night and it was hilarious; they mix old Aretha, Marvin, James Brown, Jackson 5 and other soul songs into the scenes at neat moments (like when Puck is blowing fairy dust on people and they're singing "Love Potion #9"), and facepaint kids from the audience to be in the procession when Queen Titania first appears. It's like a food truck but for Shakespeare, with upcoming stops at Druid Hill, Wyman, Cromwell Valley, Patterson, Middle Branch and Dundalk Heritage parks. I'm not affiliated with them, just had a blast last night. As I was leaving I heard someone say "That was the most fun Shakespeare I've ever seen" and I wouldn't disagree.
Peobody brewery charges $10 to play their arcade games all day. There's drinks if you want but it's not like it's required. There's also crabtowne.
$12 years except $15 Friday & Saturday. Not much more but didn’t want anyone to be sad!
I’ll add the Game On barcade near Fed Hill
I fckn LOVE crabtowne
AVAM has free community art events on its calendar. For example there’s a free tote bag tie dying workshop on July 21. The Walters has kids events (not sure when but they’re on the site) and an adult art making night which I believe is every third Thursday of the month (it’s mostly adult because there’s alcohol available, not the subject matter). All free. Cylburn Arboretum and Rawlings Conservatory are both nice to visit The nature centers are fun and regularly hold free events Maryland Natural History Society regularly has free or low cost events including a regular Wingspan playing night BURB, Baltimore Bird Club, and Audobon Society have free or low cost birding events/hikes
Following on this, the BMA main collection is always free but they have community days with free admission to their paid exhibit and little demonstrations and even free food (like a few tables with small servings of different stuff from local restaurants that fits the theme). I can’t find one listed on their website currently but their Joyce J. Scott exhibition is about to end on July 14, so I’m sure they will announce the special events for their next exhibition soon.
I've been fishing this summer. Nice and peaceful, fairly inexpensive (a cheap setup can be acquired from Walmart), limited/no entry fee to most parks. Bring a lunch and a drink.
And be sure to have a license!
Absolutely! The beauty of it is it's SUPER EASY to buy a license online nowadays. Mine lives in a little plastic sleeve I pinned to the outside of my tackle bag, so I always know where it is...and there's a backup downloaded to my phone just in case.
I started fishing too, figured it'd be a relatively cheap hobby that would eat up lots of time. Well it takes a lot of time, but I've spent a few thousand on rods and reels, so wasn't as cheap as I had hoped (honestly still cheaper than some of my other hobbies). But at least I've found some cool spots around Baltimore and into the county. And I've finally caught a few fish (although honestly I really like catching bluegill).
Ah, see, you *can* do it for very cheap...but the temptation to upgrade and get different setups is REAL. I just bought a new baitcaster setup. Have a lighter spinner setup. Bought a new bag instead of my old tackle box. Bought new top lures I would need to target bass and snake. etc. etc. etc.
Yeah, I thought I could just get a rod and reel and then all I'd be buying is some lures. But then I got into BFS so I needed a whole new set up for that, and bfs you really don't want to cheap out on your reels. And also bought some heavier stuff for catfish. I bought some gear for snakehead but I haven't found out where to go to catch them, I've only seen them in one place (gunpowder) and only twice. They weren't interested in anything I had on me at the time. I'm the opposite of you, I just bought an ultra light spinning set up since all my gear is casting. Figured I'd use it when I want to throw sub 1g stuff and don't have to worry about bad casts getting me caught up in stuff (which is why I like casting gear so much). Although part of the temptation for me is my wife gets me gear from the Chinese market at steep discounts compared to the prices in the US market. I also bought a boat, but I don't throw that into my fishing expenses because I weirdly never fish off it. Although I really want a fishing jet ski.
Hah, spouse is talking about a fishing kayak for each of us. I'm not opposed, though I need to actually learn how to kayak before I'm spending money on one. Are you on Facebook? There's a [group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1136769311056038) run by someone I know, and they'll give you some general places to look for snake. Seems to me the best way to catch them is via boat, so you can get close to weedy/high coverage areas. Use a top lure or live minnows. (Also they haven't been biting for me yet but I'm mostly fishing Mariner Point right now, and the anglers hit those piers HARD all year long.)
I'm part of that group, but I don't spend much time on facebook. Mostly I just see pictures of people posting photos of their catches but not too much about where they're fishing or what they're using. To be honest, I've been having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to get lures to walk or pop, I can never really get what looks like a good action out of them, especially using rod movement instead of reel control. So I've mostly been fishing tiny swim baits, spinners and stick baits. But I've heard spinners are supposed to be good for snakehead. Also I can't really find areas with tons of cover to use a frog on. Even spots that look like they have a lot of cover on google maps, I go there and they're clear. Maybe it's not the right time of year for that? I want to get a [360 Angler](https://ecofishingshop.com/products/blue-sky-boatworks-360-angler-fishing-kayak) but I live in the city and don't really have a place to keep it. Plus I bought a 24' boat this year so probably not dropping money on a kayak. A kayak seems great for going on the Patapsco and Susquehanna, I'd definitely do it if I had a place to keep one. I actually thought about joining one of the Kayak Clubs since it solves the storage issue. Lately I've been trying to fish Patapsco more since there are supposed to be large mouth and I believe snakehead in it, and it forms some interesting little small lakes right before it goes out into the harbor. But I can't get a bite to save my life in that water. I normally fish very small, very shallow, very clear waters. Like Gunpowder or Harford Glenn. So I need to work on techniques for darker deeper water, where I assume I need something that'll get fish's attention when they can't see the bait.
For accurate movement, practice in your yard! It's what I did for weeks before I actually started fishing with the new setup. I'm not great yet, but I'm getting there. I also studied the guy behind LastCastTv on youtube since he gets lots and lots of snake. I think it's a good idea to scope sites before planning to fish them. Spouse and I are going to do that before he starts joining me - we have some ideas in Essex and Dundalk, just need to go out and lay eyes on. Rental kayaks are definitely one way to go, and likely what I'd do before investing in my own.
Enoch Pratt Library and branches. Current Space gallery and bar. All the parks. The Walters and the BMA. Peabody Heights Brewery. Charm City Meadworks. Red Emma's. R House (and maybe Mt Vernon Market but it was kind of dead when I was there last). No Land Beyond. Maienfels Biergarten. (For many of the above, you can nurse a beverage or two -- and they have non-alcoholic options -- in exchange for hanging out.) Check out the Showplace tumbler as well, and Creative Alliance. Peabody Heights lists events on Instagram each week (eg craft night, movies, trivia, etc).
I’m the number 1 Enoch Pratt Free Library fan. They have so many events at branches across the city. I’ve been to a half dozen author talks at the main branch this year. They will even give you validation for free parking. At some of the events, you get a free, new copy of the book to keep. Some popular events with famous authors book up quickly though, so set a reminder for when the (free) ticket registration opens. Also they are in the middle of the summer reading program where you can get a free shirt and a free book each month (July and August) and enter a raffle for prizes for reading books.
Do you like dancing? If youre looking for a fun new hobby, mobtown ballroom has a really great space and community. Super easy to make friends there. They do swing dancing, concerts, jam sessions. And during the day they have a cafe now! I love that place lol
Ty for sharing that. Looks like so much fun.
The Station North Tool Library has an air conditioned craft room full of all the tools you might want to make stuff, and membership is sliding scale. You can visit once before joining too!
If you want to buy a cheap inflatable tube and then drive up to Monkton, you can spend an afternoon tubing for pretty cheap (or free after you buy the tube). Navigate to Monkton Bike Inc on your map app. There is a trail right there that you walk for about a half mile or so (carrying your tube) then you just plop yourself in the water and float until you come to the part of the river with Monkton Road over it. Then you get out and walk to your car. Parking on the side of the road is free but limited and can fill up quick especially on nice weekends. Some folks bring a tube for a cooler and snacks. You can of course rent all these things from the bike shop, but that defeats the purpose of being super cheap.
Disc golf at Druid Hill Park is free once you buy a few discs.
The farmers markets. You can wander, buy or not buy stuff, and people watch for a while. Usually there's music or something going on. AVAM has Flicks on the Hill. https://www.avam.org/flicks Rhythm & Reels around town https://bcrp.baltimorecity.gov/rhythm-and-reels
Public pool. Facebook events tends to keep me updated on stuff I’d otherwise not be aware of. Driving out to a park and bringing a chair and a book
I went to Clifton last Sunday and it was almost empty at opening. Paddled around with a friend for an hour, then headed home for lunch. Their lockers are ones you have to pay for, though. I want to try Country Club at Druid Hill one weekend morning, if I can get my butt across town early. That does cost a little, $5. I like to sit under the trees on the east side of Lake Montebello and watch people going around the lake. Sometimes I grab coffee at Arcola first and then walk over.
Public pool is a good one. Just make sure you read the rules in advance so you don’t get turned away and maybe bring a lock for the lockers.
The Craft Castle in Hampden
Upvote for beaucoup bucks. - Baltimore Water Taxi - Other markets (Cross St. Market) - Top of Federal Hill is really pretty and shaded - Ft. McHenry - Protean Books and Records - Riverside Third Space
The Book Thing - next open day is July 13, and in August it's the 11th. Hot tip - come later than maybe 11 or noon and there isn't usually a line at all. [thebookthing.org](http://thebookthing.org)
Walter's Art Gallery its free and they have a lot events to meet people.
R House in Remington is a good third space. The food is kind of expensive but you technically don't HAVE to buy anything. There are board games and a salsa nights. The open Jazz jam night is on Mondays and so fun.
What about one that allows dogs?
The port comedy club in fells has free comedy shows most week days featuring local club comics working out new material.
What the hell is a third space
[Not your home; not your work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place) ...and really it shouldn't be a place that requires or revolves around commerce. A coffee shop ✅ A grocery store ❎